Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Royal Aero-Marines

Getting skyjacked by air pirates is constant threat for those that fly the skies of Darmonica, especially since during the War it was not unheard of military skyships being boarded. Much like the sailing ships of old, skyships can often be seen carrying a detachment of soldiers known as 'aero-marines'. These aero-marines serve on both military and civilian skyships, though the latter tends to belong to private security companies or corporate militias.

The best known of all of the aero-marine forces that exist in Darmonica is the Commonwealth's Royal Aero-Marines.History

The Royal Aero-Marines can trace their origins back to the marines of the Commonwealth Navy, airships were originally under the Navy's control and small detachments of marines gradually started being used to provide security onboard these airships with the rise of sky pirates. When the Commonwealth Air Force was formed it was given control of the Commonwealth's air fleet and a number of the Navy's marines were offered the chance to transfer to the new Service. Those that did transfer over formed the nucleus of what was soon dubbed the 'aeronautical marine force', they were joined by soldiers from the Army when the force was officially named the 'Royal Aero-Marines' by Royal Warrant.

Prior to the Great Darmonican War the Royal Aero-Marines, or the Rams as they were nicknamed, were only the strength of a single battalion. During the War they were quickly expanded as the air fleet was built-up as the War waged on, with the Rams taking part in most of the Commonwealth's skyship engagements throughout the War. They also gained extra responsibilities and remain a sizeable force in the post-War years with the threat of sky pirates being so prevalent.

Organisation & Roles

Like their naval ancestors the Rams based their structure upon that of the Commonwealth Army, ranging from platoon and companies up to divisions. Typically only companies are the largest sized unit encountered, either as a the Ram detachment on one of the larger skyships or on 'shore duty' defending CAF bases and installations. Platoons are more common being found on both the smaller skyships of the air fleet and as 'shore parties' to provide security on the ground whenever a skyship is 'docked' at a non-military airfield. Occasionally ten-man strong sections may be encountered escorting valuable cargo or a prisoner.

The Aero-Marines' primary duty is the security of skyships by either repelling boarders or manning the guns in defence of the vessel, they have been used to board and try to capture other skyships if the opportunity arises. On the ground they mainly act as an airfield defence unit (much like the RAF Regiment), though they have been used in a shore party role as described above as well as in actual ground combat alongside Army units. Additionally Aero-Marines can apply and become pilots in the CAF, flying fighter or other aircraft.

Use In Games

How the Rams are used in your game depends on the sort of campaign that you're running, they can be an ally of the group or an enemy.

*A sky pirate campaign will have the Aero-Marines as a big foe if the group goes in for skyjacking, though the same can be said if the group decides to attack a CAF base.

*For a military campaign the Aero-Marines can be allies, rivals or foes depending on the group's actions.

*The group could be Aero-Marines themselves, either serving onboard a skyship or at a base. Shore parties in particular have a broad scope for different sort of situations for the group to handle.